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Patented 5 W. G, L' GAR GOUPLING' (No Model.)

, Jimmy/ 0:36

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. BEAL, OF FERNANDINA, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR THREE-FOURTHS TOTHEODORE STARBUOK AND DAVID E. MAXWELL, OF SAME PLACE, HENRY R. DUVAL,OF ISLIP, NEW YORK, AND JOHN A. HENDERSON, OF

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 466,594, dated January5, 1892. Application filed April 22, 1891- Serial No. 389.992. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, itmay concern-.-

. Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. BEAL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Fernandina, in the county of Nassau and State ofFlorida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOar-Couplings; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to improvements in r 5 car-couplings, whereby thecars are automatically coupled when broughttogether without thenecessity of the brakeman going between the cars. v

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical, andefficient device for the above purpose which shall possess advantagesover and be superior to others of a like character now in use.

The invention-consists in the novel features 2 5 of construction and newcombination of parts hereinafter fully described, and specificallypointed out in the claim. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is acentral longitudinal section of a draw-head 0 and coupling-hookconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig 2 is a similar viewwith the hook removed, Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line a: m,Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view of the coupling-hook detached.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates a draw-head,which may be secured to a car in any ordinary or suitable manner. Thefront of this draw-head is enlarged and formed with a flaring mouth 2,as

Y usual, so as to allow the 'link to readily enter the same. In rear ofthis flaring mouth is a recess 3, which will allow the link insertedtherein to have free play, so as to conform to the oscillations of thecar. On this upper side the draw-head is provided with a horizontal slot4, extending from. the front of the draw-head a sufficient distance toreceive the coupling-hook hereinafter described. Intermediate of theends of the slot the draw-head is formed or provided with a stop 5,consisting of the upwardly-extending portions 6 on each sides of theslot and the transverse portion 7, the latter spanning the slot a shortdistance above the same. At its rear the slot 4 intersects a verticalslot 8, in which the rear end of the coupling-hook 9 is located. Thishook consists of a metal plate formed approximately as. shownthat is tosay, it has a curved downwardly-depending portion 10, a curved recess12, and a rear portion 13, which is cut away at its front, forming ashoulder 14, which abuts against the front wall of the vertical slot 8.Passing through apertures in the side of the drawhead and also throughan aperture in the rear portion of the coupling-hook, is a pin 15, whichforms the pivot of said hook. As will be seen, the aperture in the hookis larger than the pivot-pin, sothat the hook can play thereon. A loopor eye 16 is secured to the upper forward end of the hook, to which anoperatingchain may be attached for uncoupling or disengaging the hookfrom the link.

The operation is as follows: The coupling hook will normally occupy theposition shown in Fig. 1. As the cars come together, the link will enterthe mouth of the draw-head and, striking the curved hook, will elevateor raise the same. After passing the hook the latter Will fall bygravity and engage with the link, thus coupling the cars. The link canbe disengaged by means of the chain secured to the loop on-the hook,said chain being connected with suitable levers or other operatingdevices. The stop on the upper side of the draw-head limits themovements of the hook and prevents it from being thrown out of the slotin which it works. It will be noted that there is 110 strain on the pinwhich forms the pivot of the hook, it simply serving to hold said hookinplace,the entire strain being upon the shoulder in the rear portion ofthe hook and the front Wall of the vertical shot in the draw-head, theaperture in the hook being made larger than in the pivot-pin, so as toallow the hook to play therein for this purpose.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is- In a ear-coupling,the combination, with a draw-head having a flaring mouth, an enlarged 5recess in rear thereof, a horizontal slot, a veradapted to abut againstthe front wall of said vertical slot, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature 15 in presence of witnesses.

WILLIAM 0. BEAT).

Witnesses:

S. CARRIO,

G. W. MURPHY, CHAS. II. LEGGETT.

